A Blog by International Artist Amanda Turner

The days leading up to my departure were filled with friends and family and friends that are family. I had a going away art show which produced pretty much the exact amount of money that I thought it would, and it’s all thanks to all of my people who support and have always supported, and THAT is so fucking amazing to me! I also got to meet some new faces which I’m always down with. Thank you to all of you who came and gave me your time and your dollars to help me on my journey. I am so in love with all of you, and it still blows me away that I have that kind of support.

Here are a few pics from the show…

Just kidding, I’ve deleted them all. Don’t ask me why. So here are a few pics of art from the show…

The next day was spent with Adam, bee-bopping around town, getting a few last minute things done before my exit.

And thennnnn… had a friends-that-are-family pot luck dinner. This event had me even more amazed and I’m so grateful for every person that was present; an inter-web of Hubbard’s, Van Dora’s and Bosser’s (and a few others) who’ve all adopted me into their large circle of family. These are some of my favorite people on the planet, and are a HUGE part of my success as an artist and a person. I love you guys…

The next morning I flew away at 6:49 am. I have nothing to report about the day of travel except that everything went smoother than I could have ever imagined.

Upon arrival in San Jose, Costa Rica, I exited the airport to a LARGE group of people. 1/3rd of them were singing and playing instruments, 1/3rd were picking up friends or family and the other 1/3rd were asking if I needed a cab. To which I had to reply “No, thank you” about 30 times.

I then took a bus to Jaco, approximately 2 hours West of San Jose. For about the first 30 minutes I felt like I was still in St. Petersburg, Florida. The traffic was different, but not much else. I could see the mountains from a distance but I definitely wasn’t close enough to enjoy them. As we’re driving along, around the half hour mark, all of a sudden the road opens up to these massively beautiful mountain ranges and we are ON THEM, IN THEM, BREATHING THEM! I was so fucking floored, I almost cried. Halfway through the trip I realized my neck was starting to hurt from all of my gawking back and forth.

So we arrive in Jaco, I hop out of the van and onto the steps of my hostel, Selina Jaco, and I’m in looooooooooove! This place is exactly as described on the Hostel World app and beyond what my imagination conjured up. It’s right on the beach, coconut palms everywhere, coconut piles everywhere, a beautiful pool, super friendly staff, and adorned with the most minimal, yet inspiring murals.

I went out and explored the city of Jaco yesterday. It’s a pretty cool place. It’s kind of exactly what I expected, very toursity, except that it has a lot of healthy restaurant options, juice bars and coffee bars. It puts St. Pete to shame as far as its options for clean eating. It’s a little run down compared to our American standards, but I think it gives it charm. I love old shit.

The best part about Jaco is that no one is in a rush here. They’re just living. And they’re happy.

Today’s activities include the start of a mural for Epicentro Civico Por La Paz De Garabito. It’s a community center for children, teen mothers, and immigrants that have fled from other nearby countries due to poverty or crime. It’s pretty refreshing that such a thing exists in a city/country that’s not just focused on helping its own people, but humanity as a whole.

All in all, Costa Rica is beautiful, but I am nowhere near close enough to these mountains. Jaco is a cool place, but I need less party time and more nature time. Once the mural and other various fun art projects are finished in Jaco, I will be moving on to somewhere that I can run a muck through the mountains.

And no, I haven’t seen any exotic birds or monkeys. Maybe today will be the day though, wish me luck.

So, right now, I just re-did my website to focus on more of the art and photography aspect of my skills, and last month it was to focus more on photography, and the month before it was to focus more on web design. And now I’m wondering if I’m constantly updating my website or just constantly changing it. I’m also wondering, will it ever balance out? To me being happy just how it is, making various upgrades over time? Or am I just going to continue being a chameleon of the web?

I guess all that matters is that I’m happy with it right now. I’ve also decided to take more advantage of this WordPress blog. That part I’m really excited about. The blog that was provided with my website doesn’t allow for followers, and I enjoy the feedback and camaraderie of followers. Soooo, yay for blogging! I’m gonna blog the fuck outta this blog!

There’s this place over the Skyway that is one of the most beautiful and inspiring places I’ve ever seen. I was taken there for the first time about 7 or so years ago, by a man who is 3rd generation born and raised in Florida, and whom I admire and trust more than anyone on the planet. Although his stand-up skills need some work, he’s the funniest fucker I’ve ever met. The man I’m referring to is named Adam.

The place I’m referring to is named Cortez, Florida.

All photos by Amanda Turner

Countless stories of Cortez from Adam and his family make me yearn to visit every chance I get. Although Adam’s family made most of their history here in Pinellas County, Cortez played a role in a lot of their memories. His family is also on their 3rd generation of old school, gritty ass fishermen, and are one of the most predominant fishing families in Florida.

I don’t know why this fact and places like old Cortez are so appealing to me. Maybe it’s the mystery of history, or maybe it’s the idea of really manly men doing really manly things for many generations.

I also think it might have something to do with the stories I’ve been told about old Florida by his abundant amount of family members. It’s intriguing and interesting to know the part they played and still are playing in Florida history.

Depending on which family member I’m sitting down with, I’ll get completely different perspectives on what life was and is like around the area.

If it’s his father, it’s usually tales of his smuggling days or of old plans that could’ve been, and I become so amazed by his genius mind and his appetite for adventure, even today, every time he speaks. If it’s his brother, who, fittingly, captains boats at the family’s marina; I’m updated on business and how the fish are biting. If it’s an uncle, one in particular, it’s almost always a story of some girl that he used to chase on the beach, “the one that got away”, who usually happens to still be amongst the family friends.

Either way, they all seem to impress me somehow.

But if it’s his mother, I know I’m about to hear one of the most romantic and captivating stories of their younger years that will make me wish I was a part of that time. Every time she tells me about how she met Adam’s dad, or about their old house in coastal Tierra Verde, Florida or about how Adam was such a pain in the ass when he was little (totally believable), I get a sense of nostalgia although I was never there.

So when Adam and I venture down over the Skyway to Cortez every now and then, she will insist that we go to this place or that place, and without a doubt they are always one of the most amazing places I’ve ever been.

One of her favorite places to go, that is now one of mine, is The Sea Hagg. From the front yard to the back, the outside of the entire structure to the inside, from floor to ceiling, it is covered in old Florida history. From 25 cent brass rings to thousand dollar ship wheels, I’m taken aback by the amount of antiques, glass buoys, fishing nets and mermaids of all shapes and sizes that inundate this place. I feel an insatiable desire to sit down and break out every art supply I own and get busy every time I walk into The Sea Hagg.

So when I think of old Florida, or Cortez, or the many lifelong friendships that this family has kept and passed on to me, I feel privileged that they would accept me as if I were one of theirs. I feel privileged to live in one of the most beautiful places on earth with some of the most awe-inspiring people I’ve ever met. And every time Adam walks into a room, I’m reminded of all of it.

Art. It’s a funny thing. It makes you feel some type of way. And I’m not talking about the consumer, I’m talking about the artist. Sometimes, it makes me want to pull my hair out! I’ll elaborate on this at a later date.

But most times, it makes me feel like I’m laying in a hammock on a tropical island sipping on a coconut.

Bloggety, bloggety, blog! I haven’t posted one of these in a coon’s age. Feels good though, getting your thoughts out.

I’m on this new venture. It’s called ETSY! I’m so excited about it! Here’s the deal:

On Friday May 13th at 6 pm, I’ll be debuting my Etsy page with my new style of prints and stationery, the Dysania Collection. AND I’ll be giving away a free 5×7 print with every purchase made on May 13th, 14th and 15th!

Preview of the Dysania Collection

I’ll also be debuting a new collection every 3 months, so when the new one comes out, the previous ones will no longer be available. So you’ll have to scoop them up while you have the chance.

So normally I get called to do sign painting gigs on the outside of buildings or a funky design along with the business’ logo. I LOVE doing them, every single one is a challenge. But for the first time ever, someone asked me to do something that I wanted to do. They gave me the basic color scheme and said, “paint some shit on my front door”.

Oh em geeee, it was awesome! I mean, the product that came to fruition was pretty cool, but what was so awesome about it was doing something that I wanted to do. It was just non-stop feeding my soul the whole time I was schlepping paint on their door. We had a set price before I got started, but I went waaaaay above and beyond because I was loving just doing what I wanted to do!

My suggestion is, if you’re going to commission an artist to do something for you, let them do what they want if possible! So much more heart and soul will be put into it.